New Aston Owner 07MY V8V
Discussion
Right, tracker sorted, now for the full low down.
A little while back I decided to consolidate my garage from 3 to 2 cars. Keeping the race car but consolidating a Morgan Aero 8 (which I've not been driving enough at all to justify keeping it) and the latest model BMW 3 Coupe 2.0d Mpack. My daily drive.
I whittled the choices down to either Aston Martin V8V 4.3 07MY or a Maserati Grandturismo 4.7 MC Shift. I wanted a car which was around £50k which had a reasonable amount of miles on the clock.... not a super low miler as I want to use the car everyday and garage queens often have unresolved issues.
I contacted a couple of dealers and waited.
Maserati offered a couple of options, although MC shift cars are still commanding a premium and the hydraulic computer controller of the clutch system still worried me about longevity and failure (although they have no reputation for this).
In the end having gone to both HWM Walton, Lancaster Reading and Maranello Egham on several occasions, Lancaster Reading contacted me about a car they were about to receive.
A Tungsten Silver 07MY on a 56 plate, their ex-demo car which they only had for one week in the fall of 2006 before a chap bought it... so really it had only had one owner as Lancaster did not get a chance to use it much.
It was competitively priced and had many options:
Zenon Lights,
Heated Seats,
Upgraded Sound System,
Tracker,
Bluetooth,
Sat Nav,
Black Leather with course stitching,
19" wheels,
electric multi memory seats,
Cruise Control.
Mandatory for me were:
Zenon Lights, Heated sets, 19" wheels and cruise control.
So it matched nicely even though it has 28k on the clock (no problem for me). In the end a deal was struck which included a negotiated price for the rear light clusters being swapped out to clear units. Lancaster also at their cost Replaced two rear tyres, undertook the 5th (4th Annual/major service) sorted a stone chip and wired the exhaust flaps permanently open. (no need to pull fuse 22!!) I also received as per used rules a full Aston Used warranty.
Unfortunately the car was not ready when I wanted to pick it up so I have been driving round in their 10MY demonstrator for a week, I will be using my car for every day use as I want to get my value from the car and not leave it in the garage like my Morgan Aero was.
I have to say it's been a joy, no issues from the MY10 car, it happily stayed at the station, contrary to my expectations, people positively avoid getting close to it, although there are spaces adjacent, people do not park next to me, opting to park 50m+ further down the car park. When I return and there are cars next to me the assistance on the doors ensures there is no issues with me getting in.
I anticipated the 16mpg but even with this, the commute from my home to the quick train station some villages away costs only £25 per week, returning a cost per trip lower than the local bus!!
At the weekend I finally picked up my car and handed back the 4.7, I was anxious as having read about the differences I didn't want to feel disappointed. Settling for a "lesser car" somehow.
Anyway, personally, having driven my 4.3 for a while now, although there are differences some are some up's and downs in terms of which is better.
The 4.7 has a silly arm rest deal, a little cube to rest your elbow on, whilst in 3rd and 5th this is in the correct place in 4th and 6th it's not. The 4.3 has the advantage in the this comfort aspect. Somehow the upgraded sound system in my 4.3 also sounds better, not sure why, the audio setting are the same (I've adjusted them to exactly the same). Also the sound of the car. The 4.7 is quiet and whilst I appreciate I've had the flaps wired open I'd take the 4.3 note as an OEM option.
Externally the Tungsten Gray pops out more than the black loan car, as do the 7 spoke wheels over the multi v-spoke options on the loan car.
The down-sides is only the throttle response at top peddle is slightly muted, the 4.7 and the 4.3 feel similarly fast when "making progress", it's in the first 10% of throttle travel the 4.7 feels more direct. I think to resolve this I will get the Performance Pack added to bring it up to N400 spec. The only other thing which I believe the 4.7 has up it's sleeve which is great is the front parking sensors, they are fantastic when negotiating London car parks etc. Lancasters are putting me in touch with a firm in London who do top end cars and you cannot tell them from OEM units.
The clear rear lights make a huge difference and I think with the engine upgrade and front sensors it will be just as effective as the MY10 car, for 1/2 the price.
So I'm very pleased to be an Aston Martin owner and hope to get maximum use of the car. (not a garage queen!!)
A little while back I decided to consolidate my garage from 3 to 2 cars. Keeping the race car but consolidating a Morgan Aero 8 (which I've not been driving enough at all to justify keeping it) and the latest model BMW 3 Coupe 2.0d Mpack. My daily drive.
I whittled the choices down to either Aston Martin V8V 4.3 07MY or a Maserati Grandturismo 4.7 MC Shift. I wanted a car which was around £50k which had a reasonable amount of miles on the clock.... not a super low miler as I want to use the car everyday and garage queens often have unresolved issues.
I contacted a couple of dealers and waited.
Maserati offered a couple of options, although MC shift cars are still commanding a premium and the hydraulic computer controller of the clutch system still worried me about longevity and failure (although they have no reputation for this).
In the end having gone to both HWM Walton, Lancaster Reading and Maranello Egham on several occasions, Lancaster Reading contacted me about a car they were about to receive.
A Tungsten Silver 07MY on a 56 plate, their ex-demo car which they only had for one week in the fall of 2006 before a chap bought it... so really it had only had one owner as Lancaster did not get a chance to use it much.
It was competitively priced and had many options:
Zenon Lights,
Heated Seats,
Upgraded Sound System,
Tracker,
Bluetooth,
Sat Nav,
Black Leather with course stitching,
19" wheels,
electric multi memory seats,
Cruise Control.
Mandatory for me were:
Zenon Lights, Heated sets, 19" wheels and cruise control.
So it matched nicely even though it has 28k on the clock (no problem for me). In the end a deal was struck which included a negotiated price for the rear light clusters being swapped out to clear units. Lancaster also at their cost Replaced two rear tyres, undertook the 5th (4th Annual/major service) sorted a stone chip and wired the exhaust flaps permanently open. (no need to pull fuse 22!!) I also received as per used rules a full Aston Used warranty.
Unfortunately the car was not ready when I wanted to pick it up so I have been driving round in their 10MY demonstrator for a week, I will be using my car for every day use as I want to get my value from the car and not leave it in the garage like my Morgan Aero was.
I have to say it's been a joy, no issues from the MY10 car, it happily stayed at the station, contrary to my expectations, people positively avoid getting close to it, although there are spaces adjacent, people do not park next to me, opting to park 50m+ further down the car park. When I return and there are cars next to me the assistance on the doors ensures there is no issues with me getting in.
I anticipated the 16mpg but even with this, the commute from my home to the quick train station some villages away costs only £25 per week, returning a cost per trip lower than the local bus!!
At the weekend I finally picked up my car and handed back the 4.7, I was anxious as having read about the differences I didn't want to feel disappointed. Settling for a "lesser car" somehow.
Anyway, personally, having driven my 4.3 for a while now, although there are differences some are some up's and downs in terms of which is better.
The 4.7 has a silly arm rest deal, a little cube to rest your elbow on, whilst in 3rd and 5th this is in the correct place in 4th and 6th it's not. The 4.3 has the advantage in the this comfort aspect. Somehow the upgraded sound system in my 4.3 also sounds better, not sure why, the audio setting are the same (I've adjusted them to exactly the same). Also the sound of the car. The 4.7 is quiet and whilst I appreciate I've had the flaps wired open I'd take the 4.3 note as an OEM option.
Externally the Tungsten Gray pops out more than the black loan car, as do the 7 spoke wheels over the multi v-spoke options on the loan car.
The down-sides is only the throttle response at top peddle is slightly muted, the 4.7 and the 4.3 feel similarly fast when "making progress", it's in the first 10% of throttle travel the 4.7 feels more direct. I think to resolve this I will get the Performance Pack added to bring it up to N400 spec. The only other thing which I believe the 4.7 has up it's sleeve which is great is the front parking sensors, they are fantastic when negotiating London car parks etc. Lancasters are putting me in touch with a firm in London who do top end cars and you cannot tell them from OEM units.
The clear rear lights make a huge difference and I think with the engine upgrade and front sensors it will be just as effective as the MY10 car, for 1/2 the price.
So I'm very pleased to be an Aston Martin owner and hope to get maximum use of the car. (not a garage queen!!)
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff